Regina’s police chief has been suspended with pay while an investigation is conducted into a public complaint against him.
Regina’s Board of Police Commissioners said a community member filed a complaint against Police Chief Farooq Sheikh, and the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) is reviewing the complaint.
The board said the Police Act requires Sheikh be removed from active service during the investigation.
The nature of the complaint has not been released.
“The Board of Police Commissioners takes complaints seriously and has a duty to protect public confidence in the Regina Police Service while the PCC investigates,” said an April 4 statement released by the Regina Police Service on behalf of the board.
The board said that Deputy Chief Lorilee Davies will be the acting police chief while Sheikh is suspended.
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The board said that no further comments will be made while the investigation is ongoing.
It said the PCC will notify the board once the investigation has been completed. The public will be updated after that, the statement said.
The PPC is a five-person, non-police body appointed by the government, the statement said. Its role is to address public complaints against police services and police officers.
Sheikh started working in law enforcement in the UK, according to the Regina Police Service website. It notes that he has worked in law enforcement since 1992.
He holds a masters degree in criminology from Birmingham University, and also worked as a senior police officer with the Metropolitan Police for the Greater London area, and with the West Midlands Police.
He joined the Regina police in December 2023, after having served as the chief of Alberta Sheriffs, the website said.
